Barnsley Council to lose two of its most senior officials later this year

The council’s executive director for core services, Andrew Frosdick, will leave the authority in May and colleague Rachel Dickinson, executive director for children’s services is also leaving.

She will be replaced internally by Mel John-Ross, currently service director for children’s social care and safeguarding.

However, there are no internal candidates to take on Mr Frosdick’s role, which means a new face at the town hall is inevitable.

Councillors were told of developments at a‘scrutiny meeting where details of a peer review on the council, carried out by colleagues from elsewhere, were discussed.

That highlighted that some staff had been unsettled by the change when Sarah Norman took over as chief executive last year, replacing Diana Terris.

Coun Jake Lodge asked what measures were being taken for this year’s senior staffing changes.

He was told by Sarah Norman: “It is something we have to pay attention to in both cases.

“For the executive director of core services we don’t have an internal candidate.

“I have made sure I have spent a lot of time out and about getting to know people, as well as being quite visible with my blog.

“Particularly when the core director starts we will make sure they have a similar programme.”

As part of the recruitment process also involves using a panel of existing council employees to provide feedback on candidates, allowing the authority “to gauge how they will go down with front line staff”, she added,